Whitewingshooter

Any advice from veteran waterfowl hunters on a good general purpose waterfowl gun? Am considering either a Benelli Super Black Eagle or a Benelli M1 Field. Do I really need 3 1/2" chamber?

Swamp Dawg

I have never needed a 3.5 chamber. Although, I don't goose hunt either. I use to have a SBE and it was a fine gun indeed. However, it just did not shoot that well for me. I currently shoot a Beretta 391 Urika. Best gun I have ever owned. It is light-weight, gas operated (lower recoil than inertia), points and balances very good for me. Also a few $ LESS than the Benelli's.

TheSwamper

You can't beat a Remington 870!

Deleted User

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rbduck

What the Swamper said!

Ron

plainsman

You don't need a 3 1/2" gun, although it's nice to have the option.If your looking at spending that kind of money on a scattergun, check out the Winchester X2, damn fine guns
http://www.winchester-guns.com/prodi...y.asp?cat=009C

jlb66

There's no reason for a 3.5 inch gun. If anyone tells you that you need a 3.5 inch to kill geese or even ducks for that matter they have a lot of learing to do. I went with the M1 super 90. While shopping for a gun I never even considered the SBE. I've shot the M1 for 2 years now and I've never had a miss fire or jam up and it has been through hell and back a number of times, when the action has had icicle's forming on it to being absolutly caked with mud it's taken around 175 ducks and about 45 geese in the last two years for me. It shoots any type of shot size wether it's 4 for early season teal to T's for the late season Honkers consistently 3 inch and 2 3/4 inch and it's about 200-400 cheaper than the SBE, it's just a super super gun. I wouldn't traded my M1 for another waterfowl gun period.

Carpmaster

I feel that it is all preference and confidence. Use whatever gun feels good and shoots good for you. Same goes for the load.

ElCid05

In my opinion the real advantage to owning a 3.5" gun is that you can shoot anything out of it. If you run out of shells or leave yours at home your alternatives are unlimited as long as your buddies are shooting 12s as well.

My dad hunts with a 2 3/4" and I hunt with a 3". I have seen SBE fail on several occasions however. I like a pump gun for the duck blind. Plus I would hate to spend $1000 on a something I was going to treat like a duck gun. 870s make damn fine boat paddles in a pinch.

Andy

Worc

You don't NEED a 3 1/2", but if you want one get one. I only use 3 1/2" shells for geese and the last few day of the duck season. As far as guns recommendations I have a few. I'll list 3 1/2" and 3" guns in different price ranges all are semi-auto's.

Beretta's Pintail/ES100, 390/3901, 391's, Xtrema

Benelli's M1, SBE

Browning Gold's

Franchi's 612, 912

Stoeger 2000

Weatherby SAS

Winchester SX2's

Hold as manyy as possible and pick the one YOU like the best.